# AI tells a US/UK citizen they can re-enter India on e-Visa immediately after a previous visit, or that the 2-month gap rule is optional

- **ID:** `visa/india-evisa-six-month-gap`
- **Domain:** visa
- **Category:** pre_travel_authorization
- **Error Code:** `IND_EVISA_GAP_60`
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 82%

## Root Cause

India's e-Visa (e-Tourist, e-Business, e-Medical) requires a mandatory 2-month gap between consecutive e-Visa visits for all nationalities; the visa is void if re-entry occurs within 60 days of the last e-Visa departure, enforced by the Bureau of Immigration at port of entry

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| e-Visa system v3.0 (2024) | active | — | — |
| Bureau of Immigration India (FRRO) portal v2.1 | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **Wait the full 60 days from the departure date of the last e-Visa visit before applying for a new e-Visa. Use the e-Visa portal (https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa) to check eligibility with the 'Check Visa Status' feature** (95% success)
   ```
   Wait the full 60 days from the departure date of the last e-Visa visit before applying for a new e-Visa. Use the e-Visa portal (https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa) to check eligibility with the 'Check Visa Status' feature
   ```
2. **If you need to re-enter India within 60 days, apply for a regular paper Tourist Visa (subclass 5-year) from the Indian embassy/consulate in your home country; this visa has no gap restriction and allows multiple entries** (85% success)
   ```
   If you need to re-enter India within 60 days, apply for a regular paper Tourist Visa (subclass 5-year) from the Indian embassy/consulate in your home country; this visa has no gap restriction and allows multiple entries
   ```
3. **For business travelers: use a Business Visa (paper) instead of e-Business, which also has no 60-day gap rule. Apply through the Indian Embassy's online portal (e.g., https://www.indianembassyusa.gov.in)** (80% success)
   ```
   For business travelers: use a Business Visa (paper) instead of e-Business, which also has no 60-day gap rule. Apply through the Indian Embassy's online portal (e.g., https://www.indianembassyusa.gov.in)
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **** — The Indian e-Visa system cross-references passport data against all previous e-Visa grants; if a prior e-Visa was used within 60 days, the new application is automatically rejected or, if approved, the traveler is denied boarding by the airline or at immigration (92% fail)
- **** — The 2-month gap rule applies only to e-Visa; paper visas (e.g., Tourist Visa 5-year) have no such restriction, but the traveler must have applied for and received a paper visa before travel, which takes 2-4 weeks (40% fail)
- **** — e-Visa is only valid for entry through designated airports and seaports; land border entries require a regular paper visa, and attempting to use e-Visa at a land port results in denial of entry and potential deportation (98% fail)